Patent US5578901A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5578901A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Diamond fiber field emitters
Assignee: Los Alamos National Security LLC
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Filing: 1995-02-13
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Granted: 1996-11-26
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Expires: 2015-02-13
Abstract
Abstract A field emission electron emitter comprising an electrode formed of at least one diamond, diamond-like carbon or glassy carbon composite fiber, said composite fiber having a non-diamond core and a diamond, diamond-like carbon or glassy carbon coating on said non-diamond core, and electronic devices employing such a field emission electron emitter.
Inventors
- 👤 Graciela B. Blanchet-Fincher
- 👤 Don M. Coates
- 👤 David J. Devlin
- 👤 David F. Eaton
- 👤 Aris K. Silzars
- 👤 Steven M. Valone
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 03:09
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J1/00; H01J1/02; H01J1/30; H01J1/304; H01J17/00; H01J17/38; H01J17/48; H01J2201/00; H01J2201/30; H01J2201/304; H01J2201/30446; H01J2201/30453; H01J2201/30457
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 67
Claim 1
Independent Claim
42 words
A field emission electron emitter comprising an electrode fabricated from at least one diamond composite fiber, said diamond composite fiber comprising a non-diamond core and a diamond coating on said non-diamond core, wherein electron emission occurs along the length of the fiber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
42 words
A field emission electron emitter comprising an electrode fabricated from at least one diamond composite fiber, said diamond composite fiber comprising a non-diamond core and a diamond coating on said non-diamond core, wherein electron emission occurs along the length of the fiber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The field emission electron emitter of claim 1 wherein said non-diamond core comprises a conductive or semi-conductive material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The field emission electron emitter of claim 1 wherein said non-diamond core comprises a non-conductive material surrounded by a film coating of a conductive or semi-conductive material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The field emission electron emitter of claim 1 wherein said diamond composite fiber comprises a graphite core and a diamond coating upon said graphite core.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The field emission electron emitter of claim 4 wherein said diamond composite fiber has a diameter of less than about 100 microns and a diamond layer of less than about 5 microns.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The field emission electron emitter of claim 5 wherein said diamond coating comprises polycrystalline diamond having a major portion of crystal sizes of less than about 1 micron in at least one dimension.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The field emission electron emitter of claim 6 wherein said diamond coating contains minor amounts of graphite between at least a portion of said diamond crystals within said diamond coating.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The field emission electron emitter of claim 1 wherein said diamond coating comprises polycrystalline diamond having a major portion of crystal sizes of less than about 1 micron in at least one dimension.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The field emission electron emitter of claim 8 wherein said diamond coating contains minor amounts of graphite between at least a portion of said diamond crystals within said diamond coating.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
A field emission electron emitter comprising an electrode fabricated from at least one diamond-like carbon composite fiber, said diamond-like carbon composite fiber comprising a non-diamond core, wherein electron emission occurs along the length of the fiber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
A field emission electron emitter comprising an electrode fabricated from at least one diamond-like carbon composite fiber, said diamond-like carbon composite fiber comprising a non-diamond core, wherein electron emission occurs along the length of the fiber.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The field emission electron emitter of claim 10 wherein said non-diamond core comprises of a conductive or semi-conductive material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The field emission electron emitter of claim 10 wherein said non-diamond core comprises a non-conductive material surrounded by a film coating of a conductive or semi-conductive material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The field emission electron emitter of claim 10 wherein said diamond-like carbon composite fiber comprises a graphite core and a diamond-like carbon coating upon said graphite core.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
The field emission electron emitter of claim 13 wherein said diamond-like carbon fiber has a diameter of less than about 100 microns and a diamond-like carbon layer of less than about 5 microns.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The field emission electron emitter of claim 10 wherein said diamond-like carbon coating comprises an ordered arrangement of atoms less than about 10 nanometers in any direction.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
60 words
A field emission electron emitter for use in an electronic device comprising a fibrous integral electrode having a surface area of greater than about one square foot, said fibrous electrode formed of at least one diamond composite fiber comprising a non-diamond core and a diamond coating on said non-diamond core, wherein electron emission occurs along the length of the fiber.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
60 words
A field emission electron emitter for use in an electronic device comprising a fibrous integral electrode having a surface area of greater than about one square foot, said fibrous electrode formed of at least one diamond composite fiber comprising a non-diamond core and a diamond coating on said non-diamond core, wherein electron emission occurs along the length of the fiber.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The field emission electron emitter of claim 16 wherein said diamond composite fiber comprises a graphite core and a diamond coating upon said graphite core.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
51 words
In an electronic device employing a field emission electron emitter, said emitter comprising a cathode and an anode, the improvement comprising the cathode comprising at least one diamond composite fiber comprising a non-diamond core and diamond coating on said non-diamond core, wherein electron emission occurs along the length of the fiber.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
51 words
In an electronic device employing a field emission electron emitter, said emitter comprising a cathode and an anode, the improvement comprising the cathode comprising at least one diamond composite fiber comprising a non-diamond core and diamond coating on said non-diamond core, wherein electron emission occurs along the length of the fiber.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
In an electronic device according to claim 18 wherein the non-diamond core comprises a conductive or semi-conductive material.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
In an electronic device according to claim 18 wherein the non-diamond core comprises a non-conductive material surrounded by a film coating of conductive or semi-conductive material.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
The electronic device of claim 18 wherein said diamond composite fiber comprises a graphite core and a diamond coating upon said graphite core.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
153 words
A display panel comprising: a fibrous cathode formed of at least one diamond, diamond-like carbon or glassy carbon composite fiber comprising a non-diamond core and a diamond, diamond-like carbon or glassy carbon coating on said non-diamond core; an anode spaced apart from said fibrous cathode, said anode comprising a layer of patterned optically transparent conductive film upon a cathode-facing surface of an anode support plate; a layer of a phosphor material capable of emitting light upon bombardment by electrons emitted from the composite fiber of the cathode, the phosphor layer positioned adjacent the layer of patterned optically transparent conductive film; a gate electrode comprising a patterned structure of conductive paths arranged substantially orthogonally to the patterned optically transparent conductive film, each conductive path selectively operably connected to an electron source; and a voltage source connected between said anode and said fibrous cathode and wherein electron emission occurs along the length of the fiber.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
153 words
A display panel comprising: a fibrous cathode formed of at least one diamond, diamond-like carbon or glassy carbon composite fiber comprising a non-diamond core and a diamond, diamond-like carbon or glassy carbon coating on said non-diamond core; an anode spaced apart from said fibrous cathode, said anode comprising a layer of patterned optically transparent conductive film upon a cathode-facing surface of an anode support plate; a layer of a phosphor material capable of emitting light upon bombardment by electrons emitted from the composite fiber of the cathode, the phosphor layer positioned adjacent the layer of patterned optically transparent conductive film; a gate electrode comprising a patterned structure of conductive paths arranged substantially orthogonally to the patterned optically transparent conductive film, each conductive path selectively operably connected to an electron source; and a voltage source connected between said anode and said fibrous cathode and wherein electron emission occurs along the length of the fiber.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
34 words
The display panel of claim 22 wherein said composite fiber has a diameter of less than about 100 microns and a diamond, diamond-like carbon or glassy carbon layer of less than about 5 microns.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
27 words
The display panel of claim 22 wherein said composite fiber comprises a graphite core and a diamond, diamond-like carbon or glassy carbon coating upon said graphite core.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
31 words
The display panel of claim 24 wherein said diamond coating comprises polycrystalline diamond having a major portion of crystal sizes of less than about 1 micron in at least one dimension.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
28 words
The display panel of claim 25 wherein said diamond coating comprises minor amounts of graphite between at least a portion of said diamond crystals within said diamond coating.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
102 words
A display panel comprising: (a) a fibrous cathode formed of at least one diamond, diamond-like carbon or glassy carbon composite fiber consisting essentially of diamond, diamond-like carbon or glassy carbon coating on a non-diamond core; (b) a patterned optically transparent electrically conductive film serving as an anode and spaced apart from the fibrous cathode; (c) a phosphor layer capable of emitting light upon bombardment by electrons emitted by the composite fiber and positioned adjacent to the anode; and (d) a gate electrode disposed between the phosphor layer and the fibrous cathode, and wherein electron emission occurs along the length of the fiber.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
102 words
A display panel comprising: (a) a fibrous cathode formed of at least one diamond, diamond-like carbon or glassy carbon composite fiber consisting essentially of diamond, diamond-like carbon or glassy carbon coating on a non-diamond core; (b) a patterned optically transparent electrically conductive film serving as an anode and spaced apart from the fibrous cathode; (c) a phosphor layer capable of emitting light upon bombardment by electrons emitted by the composite fiber and positioned adjacent to the anode; and (d) a gate electrode disposed between the phosphor layer and the fibrous cathode, and wherein electron emission occurs along the length of the fiber.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
28 words
The display panel of claim 27 wherein said fibrous cathode is comprised of an array of composite fibers, each of which is at least 1 μm in diameter.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
40 words
The display panel as in claim 27 or claim 28, in which holes are provided in said gate electrode and any structure supporting said gate electrode to allow passage of electrons emitted from said fibrous cathode to said phosphor layer.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
32 words
The display panel of claim 27 wherein said fibrous cathode is comprised of a uniform aligned parallel array of said composite fibers, each of which is at least 1 μm in diameter.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
78 words
The display panel of claim 30 wherein said fibrous cathode is supported by a regularly undulating surface of an electrically conducting substrate and said composite fibers are aligned parallel to the rows of crests and valleys of said undulating surface thereby forming an undulating fibrous cathode; strips of an electrically insulating layer are deposited onto the crests of the undulations of said undulating fibrous cathode; and said gate electrode is deposited onto the strips of said insulating layer.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
76 words
The display panel of claim 27 wherein the support of said fibrous cathode is an electrical insulator and has a regularly undulating surface with parallel rows of crests and valleys; said fibrous cathode consists essentially of composite fibers aligned along the length of each valley of said undulating surface; and said gate electrode is comprised of a strip of electrically conducting material deposited along the length of each crest of said undulating surface of said insulator.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
29 words
The display panel of claim 32 wherein a uniform array of a single layer of composite fibers is aligned along the length of each valley of said undulating surface.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
31 words
The display panel of claim 32 wherein one composite fiber about 1 μm to about 100 μm in diameter is aligned along the length of each valley of said undulating surface.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
25 words
The display panel of claim 32 wherein a multilayer bundle of composite fibers is aligned along the length of each valley on the undulating surface.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
23 words
The display panel as in any of claims 32-35, in which said undulating surface has horizontal crests and valleys connected by vertical surfaces.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
76 words
The display panel of claim 27 wherein the support of said fibrous cathode comprises an electrical insulator and has a regularly undulating surface with parallel rows of crests and valleys; said fibrous cathode consists essentially of composite fibers aligned along the length of each valley of said undulating surface; and said gate electrode is comprised of two strips of electrically conducting material deposited along the length of each crest of said undulating surface of said insulator.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
29 words
The display panel of claim 37 wherein a uniform array of a single layer of composite fibers is aligned along the length of each valley of said undulating surface.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
31 words
The display panel of claim 37 wherein one composite fiber about 1 μm to about 100 μm in diameter is aligned along the length of each valley of said undulating surface.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
25 words
The display panel of claim 37 wherein a multilayer bundle of composite fibers is aligned along the length of each valley on the undulating surface.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
23 words
The display panel as in any of claims 37-40, in which said undulating surface has horizontal crests and valleys connected by vertical surfaces.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
22 words
The display panel of claim 27 further comprising at least one additional electrode located between the gate electrode and the phosphor layer.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
89 words
A display panel comprising: (a) a fibrous cathode formed of at least one diamond, diamond-like carbon or glassy carbon composite fiber comprising diamond, diamond-like carbon or glassy carbon on at least one non-diamond core fiber; (b) a patterned optically transparent electrically conductive film serving as an anode and spaced apart from the fibrous cathode; and (c) a phosphor layer capable of emitting light upon bombardment by electrons emitted by the composite fiber and positioned adjacent to the anode, and wherein electron emission occurs along the length of the fiber.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
89 words
A display panel comprising: (a) a fibrous cathode formed of at least one diamond, diamond-like carbon or glassy carbon composite fiber comprising diamond, diamond-like carbon or glassy carbon on at least one non-diamond core fiber; (b) a patterned optically transparent electrically conductive film serving as an anode and spaced apart from the fibrous cathode; and (c) a phosphor layer capable of emitting light upon bombardment by electrons emitted by the composite fiber and positioned adjacent to the anode, and wherein electron emission occurs along the length of the fiber.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
18 words
The display of claim 43 wherein said non-diamond core fiber is comprised of a conductive or semi-conductive material.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
29 words
The display panel as in any of claims 27, 42 or 43, in which said fibrous cathode is suspended above the surface of a substrate on stand-offs or pedestals.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
27 words
The display panel of claim 43 wherein said non-diamond core fiber is comprised of a non-conductive material surrounded by a film coating of conductive or semi-conductive material.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
44 words
A field emission electron emitter comprising an electrode fabricated from at least one glassy carbon composite fiber, said glassy carbon composite fiber comprising a non-diamond core and glassy carbon coating on said non-diamond core, wherein electron emission occurs along the length of the fiber.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
44 words
A field emission electron emitter comprising an electrode fabricated from at least one glassy carbon composite fiber, said glassy carbon composite fiber comprising a non-diamond core and glassy carbon coating on said non-diamond core, wherein electron emission occurs along the length of the fiber.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
19 words
The field emission electron emitter of claim 47 wherein said non-diamond core comprises of a conductive or semi-conductive material.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
27 words
The field emission electron emitter of claim 47 wherein said non-diamond core comprises a non-conductive material surrounded by a film coating of a conductive or semi-conductive material.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
27 words
The field emission electron emitter of claim 47 wherein said glassy carbon composite fiber comprises a graphite core and a glassy carbon coating upon said graphite core.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
33 words
The field emission electron emitter of claim 50 wherein said glassy carbon fiber has a diameter of less than about 100 microns and a glassy carbon layer of less than about 5 microns.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
27 words
The field emission electron emitter of claim 47 wherein said glassy carbon coating comprises an ordered arrangement of atoms less than about 10 nanometers in any direction.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
54 words
In an electronic device employing a field emission electron emitter, said emitter comprising a cathode and an anode, the improvement comprising the cathode comprising at least one glassy carbon composite fiber comprising a non-diamond core and a glass carbon coating on said non-diamond core, wherein electron emission occurs along the length of the fiber.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
54 words
In an electronic device employing a field emission electron emitter, said emitter comprising a cathode and an anode, the improvement comprising the cathode comprising at least one glassy carbon composite fiber comprising a non-diamond core and a glass carbon coating on said non-diamond core, wherein electron emission occurs along the length of the fiber.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
18 words
In an electronic device according to claim 53 wherein the non-diamond core comprises a conductive or semi-conductive material.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
26 words
In an electronic device according to claim 53 wherein the non-diamond core comprises a non-conductive material surrounded by a film coating of conductive or semi-conductive material.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
25 words
The electronic device of claim 53 wherein said glassy carbon composite fiber comprises a graphite core and a glassy carbon coating upon said graphite core.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
24 words
The display panel as in any of claims 22, 27 or 43 wherein the phosphor layer is positioned between the anode and the cathode.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
24 words
The display panel as in any of claims 22, 27 or 43 wherein the anode is positioned between the phosphor layer and the cathode.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-11-26 | 2000-05-27 | 2000-11-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-11-26 | 2004-05-27 | 2004-11-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-11-26 | 2008-05-27 | 2008-11-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |